Situational Criticism of William P. Barrs Judeo-Christian - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Situational Criticism of William P. Barr’s Judeo-Christian Tradition vs. Secularism

“ There is no aspect of life that is not colored by what we value and which moral philosophy we employ. The overall matter addressed in Barr’s speech has become all the more pressing as the speech has aged.

Speaker William P. Barr Roman Catholic ▪ CIA ▪ Bush White House ▪ Reagan White House ▪ US Attorney General ▪ Rhetorical history Delivered a speech to ▪ Jews in May 1992

Audience

The Secular Age?

The Secular Age? 24% Catholic 26% Catholic

“ Barr very slyly chose what bits of information he would relay to his audience and which he would keep hidden. He was able to use the Judeo-Christian religion as a weapon to push his agenda without alluding once to its holy texts or doctrines.

“We have staked our future on the ability of each of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments.” 8

“Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together . . .” 9

Secularists using law as a weapon: A law in Washington, D.C. “required Georgetown University (Barr’s Alma Mater) to treat homosexual activist groups just as it did other student groups.” “Dissenters from secularist dogma are viciously attacked and held up to ridicule.”

Barr Solves the Moral Crisis “[put] our “[pass] to the “promote and principles into next generation support religious practice in our our faith and our education at all own personal values in full levels” daily lives” vigor”

“ Was William Barr’s speech Judeo-Christian Tradition vs. Secularism a necessary and fitting response to the changing moral and cultural situation in the United States in 1992?

Lloyd Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation Audience Catholic League for Civil Rights ▪ Fellowship of Catholic Scholars ▪ An 84% Christian America ▪ Constraints Artistic proof ▪ Barr’s Catholic views ▫ Inartistic proof ▪ The audience’s Catholic views ▫ Exigence “...immense suffering, wreckage, and misery” ▪

The Rhetorical Situation A rhetorical situation calls for a specific, rhetorical response. The situation: Increased rates of Teen ▪ ▪ Poverty Pregnancy ▫ ▫ Divorce Suicide ▫ ▫ Abortion Rape ▫ ▫ Violent crime ▫ Drug addiction ▫ Venereal disease Homosexual rights ▫ ▪ Psychiatric disorders ▫ Cohabitation ▪

“ Because of the inconceivable diversity of Barr’s list, one could reasonably conclude that each of these trends requires a very individually tailored solution. Certainly not all, and probably none, of these cultural manifestations can be solved by Barr’s proposed solution of preaching religious moral rules to the unchurched and the young.

“ Was William Barr’s speech Judeo-Christian Tradition vs. Secularism a necessary and fitting response to the changing moral and cultural situation in the United States in 1992? . . . a resounding no .

Alternative Secular Solutions stable and opportunities safe family education to rise out of environments poverty

References Graham, K. M. (1985). Finding a Methodology for Rhetorical Criticism. National Forensic Journal , 86-101. Allison, J. (n.d.). Is it true that Madison said "Our future is staked on the 10 Johnston, D. (1992, Oct 8). Justice Official Sees Weakening of commandments?" . Retrieved from Church and State: Moral Fiber. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://candst.tripod.com/misq1.htm http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/08/us/jus tice-official-sees-weakening-of-moral-fiber.html Associated Press. (1992, October 7). Attorney General Bewails 'Moral Decline'. Retrieved from Deseret News: Madison, J. (1822, July 10). Letter to Edward Livingston from https://www.deseretnews.com/article/251927/ATTORNEY-GENERAL- James Madison. Letters and Other writings of James Madison, in BEWAILS-MORAL-DECLINE.html Four Volumes, Published by Order of Congress . Prometheus Books. Barr, W. (1992). The Judeo-Christian Tradition vs. Secularism. Washington, D.C., United States of America. Mikkelson, D. (2013, June 4). Religious Symbols in the U.S. National Capital . Retrieved from Snopes: Barr, W. P. (1992). Remarks of William P. Barr [Recorded by W. P. Barr]. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/national-capital/ New York, New York, United States of America. Reagan, R. (1984, February 25th). Radio Address to the Nation Bitzer, L. (1968). The Rhetorical Situation. Philosophy and Rhetoric , 1-14. on Prayer in Schools . Retrieved from The American Presidency Project: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=39565 Bush, G. H. (2004, February 6th). George Bush on atheists as citizens or patriots. (R. I. Sherman, Interviewer) Religion . (1793-2018). Retrieved from Gallup: http://news.gallup.com/poll/1690/religion.aspx Donohue, B. (2016). News Releases . Retrieved from Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights: https://www.catholicleague.org/ Saxon, W. (1999, January 18th). William Ball is Dead at 82; Defended Religious Rights . Retrieved from The New York Times: Fauvet, J. (1999, April 15). The Declaration of Independence . Retrieved http://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/18/us/william-ball-is-dead- from University of Virginia: at-82-defended-religious-rights.html http://math.virginia.edu/history/Jefferson/jeff_r(4).htm Virginia, U. o. (n.d.). William P. Barr (1991-1993) . Retrieved Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. (n.d.). Statement of Purpose . Retrieved from UVA Miller Center: https://millercenter.org/president/ from Fellowship of Catholic Scholars: https://www.catholicscholars essays/barr-1991-attorney-general .org/indexFCSDocuments_response.php?ID=34